McCutchen helps Pirates sweep Cubs

Andrew McCutchen had three hits, knocked in two runs and swiped two bags as the Pittsburgh Pirates finished off a three- game sweep of the Chicago Cubs with a 4-2 victory Thursday at PNC Park.

The Pirates, winners of four straight and 11 of their last 13 overall, pounced on Edwin Jackson (1-7) in the first two innings before a 1-hour, 47-minute rain delay suspended the contest in the fourth.

Starling Marte collected a pair of hits, scored twice and stole a base while Vin Mazzaro (3-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Jeanmar Gomez to pick up the win.

Travis Snider and Michael McKenry each knocked in a run and Jason Grilli shut the door in the ninth by converting his 19th straight save opportunity.

"We're playing solid baseball right now, finding ways to get it done," said Pirates shortstop Clint Barmes.

Jackson was removed after the rain delay and was charged with all four runs.

"There wasn't a whole lot of life coming out of (Jackson's) arm today," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum.

Rizzo produced a run with a groundout just before the delay, and when play resumed, Chicago had runners on the corners with two out and were facing Pirates reliever Mazzaro.

Welington Castillo hit a chopper into the hole at third, but Pedro Alvarez made a diving stop and fired to first to end the threat.

The Cubs scored another run in the seventh on Sweeney's two-out blooper over Neil Walker at second, but again stranded runners at first and third when McCutchen made a sliding catch on a shallow fly ball from David DeJesus.

The Pirates' offense couldn't produce a run against the Cubs relief pitching, but got going early off Jackson. After a single and a stolen base from Marte, McCutchen ripped a first pitch breaking ball into left field to plate Pittsburgh's first run.

McCutchen then swiped a bag and came around to score when McKenry drove a base hit into left to create a 2-0 lead.

Pittsburgh tacked on two more runs the following inning, with Marte scoring again after Snider drove a fly ball into center for a triple. McCutchen then knocked in his second run with a base hit into center for a 4-0 edge.

Gomez breezed through the first three frames, but struggled in the fourth by giving up a leadoff double to DeJesus and an ensuing single to Starlin Castro. Rizzo then made it 4-1 with his groundout just before the rain delay.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh is 5-0 in games that Gomez starts ... In 62 career games against the Cubs, McCutchen has reached safely in 57 of them ... It was Rizzo's 31st RBI of the season.